The history of wind power development is, in many ways, a history of breakthroughs in converter innovation. From supporting onshore wind turbines ranging from 1.5MW to 6MW, to upgrading offshore wind turbines from 8-10MW to 30MW, domestic wind power converter technology has transformed from following global trends to running alongside and now leading the world. Throughout this process, SUNGROW has resonated with the industry, keeping pace with every milestone in the large-scale wind turbine timeline. In 2018, SUNGROW pioneered three-level technology, raising voltage levels from 690V to 900V, 950V, and 1140V. Now, the company has proposed a higher 1800V wind power converter solution, collaborating with wind turbine manufacturers to usher in the 1800V era, thereby assisting in the further upgrade of the wind power industry.

1800V: Supporting Super High-Power Turbines

SUNGROW Wind Energy has consistently provided support for the large-scale development of turbines through its professional energy conversion technology. The newly launched 1800V wind power converter product again elevates the voltage level of converters. Compared to traditional 1140V systems, the increased voltage level reduces the current on the grid side by 37% at the same power level, significantly reducing losses and improving conversion efficiency, leading to better performance in power generation.

Additionally, the decrease in current directly translates into reduced cable costs. The 1800V product better meets the current cost-reduction demands of large megawatt wind turbines through less cabling and weight.

Furthermore, the 1800V product is designed within a high-standard safety framework and utilizes next-generation 2300V IGBT devices, which offer higher power density and fewer parallel components. The reduction in the number of IGBT modules, which are core components of the converter, enhances the overall reliability of the product and simplifies maintenance.

“Based on customer feedback and market forecasts, the 1800V product is primarily targeted at large-scale onshore turbines ranging from 10-15MW and super-large offshore wind turbines (over 15MW). The new product is currently in the testing phase, with plans to complete all certification tests by the end of this year,” Chen Xiaogang noted.

Streamlining the Supply Chain to Ensure Wind Power Stability and Reliability

Ensuring the reliability and stability of wind power operation has become a pressing challenge and crucial topic for every company in the industry since the acceleration of large-scale development. SUNGROW Wind Energy’s 1800V product has made significant efforts in overall layout, reducing risks associated with large components, and innovating the supply chain to ensure product stability and reliability.

In terms of overall layout, the 1800V product retains the successful experience of the 1140V three-level design in its initial design, overall layout, control scheme, and cooling plan, leveraging years of experience in high-megawatt technology to enable rapid product iteration of the new generation 1800V product.

Moreover, if current large wind turbines over 15MW were to continue using 1140V converters, the increased rotor current would lead to mechanical strength reductions and accelerated wear of critical components. It is foreseeable that the application of 1800V products will significantly contribute to reducing quality risks associated with large turbine components.

In terms of supply chain innovation, since proposing the 1800V concept in 2023, SUNGROW Wind Energy has continuously deepened communication and collaboration with upstream suppliers to develop key components for the 1800V product from the ground up, achieving breakthroughs in critical devices including low-voltage electrical equipment and IGBT devices.

For example, the product employs 2300V IGBT devices with XHP packaging, which have a higher power density and further reduced size and weight. In the case of a 16MW water-cooled unit, the number of IGBT modules has been reduced from 108 to 54. As mentioned earlier, the reduction in the number of IGBT modules also contributes to a higher level of product reliability and system stability.

“We have effectively established a comprehensive supply chain for the 1800V converter, making it possible to support super high-power turbines,” Chen Xiaogang stated. “Moving forward, we will focus on improving the spectrum of key supply chain components and reducing overall costs, continuing to advance the prototype's rollout and large-scale application work, thereby enabling cost reduction and efficiency enhancement for large-scale wind turbines.”

Leading the Wave: Focusing on Technological Innovation

This year, SUNGROW Wind Energy is further developing high-protection wind power converters suitable for complex environments like arid and saline-alkali areas and offshore settings. These converters, with an IP54 protection rating, ensure the reliability of internal electrical components under harsh conditions, further reducing maintenance difficulties. Currently, this product line covers a complete spectrum from 3-10 MW.

At the same time, SUNGROW Wind Energy is actively pursuing grid-compatible products, with its grid-compatible wind power converters successfully completing grid fault ride-through tests under weak grid conditions (SCR<1.6) and achieving stable operation under extremely weak grid conditions (SCR<1.2). As the proportion of renewable energy generation continues to rise, grid-compatible wind power is expected to significantly enhance the stability of generation systems and hold greater development potential in future power systems.

For deep-sea wind power transmission, SUNGROW Wind Energy has also developed low-frequency transmission wind power converter products. These products are capable of enabling wind turbines to connect to low-frequency power grid systems, such as 20Hz systems, in deep-sea wind farms, ensuring efficient energy transmission. Reports indicate that the 20Hz wind power converter products and overall solutions are currently being delivered.